Here's a question for James B (and other boat people)

[Kiltie]

Tanker(s) sitting outside Aberdeen harbour.

There's often one. Sometimes two. Occasionally three.

What are they doing there? Where have they been? Where are they going?

Thanks.

Edited by Kiltie on Sunday 26th October 18:16

[McWigglebum4th]

They look like shuttle tankers which are designed to take oil off FPSOs

What are they doing off aberdeen

fk knows

[Kiltie]

McWigglebum4th said:

They look like shuttle tankers which are designed to take oil off FPSOs.

So, they look tankers then.

I'd expect full shuttle tankers to be heading to a port for discharge to get the cargo sold quickly. Not hanging about in the bay at Aberdeen.

I'd expect empty shuttle tankers to wait somewhere else. It's pretty straightforward for an installation with storage / offloading to forecast when they'll need a package taken.

[Hollowpockets]

I think some of them are cargo tankers with internal bays for transporting logs/trees etc from forestry work done in the North East and highlands to Europe. Often see them loading up at Commercial Quay.

[James B]

Kiltie,

We look after the Knutsen fleet and you're right; they're shuttle tankers. They are invariably awaiting orders and crewchanging. We run a launch to and from the vessels with crew, fresh provisions and deliveries. They'll then head to the FPSO to collect the crude and then onward to the refinery for discharge.

Hope that helps.

James

[James B]

I should also have mentioned that while they're visible off Aberdeen quite often they do also sit off Peterhead and Fraserburgh from time to time for the same purpose of awaiting orders and taking crew/provisions.

[rossybee]

Regularly seen from choppers. Including today.